Interconnected wearable sensors amidst a disaster landscape.

Smart Tech to the Rescue: How IoT and Wearable Sensors are Transforming Disaster Response

Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless body area networks (WBANs) are revolutionizing disaster relief, offering a lifeline in critical situations."

In our increasingly interconnected world, wireless communication technologies have become essential, especially in emergency and disaster situations. The ability to quickly and reliably share information can mean the difference between life and death. Among these technologies, wireless body area networks (WBANs) stand out for their potential to monitor, collect, and transmit vital data about individuals in distress, directly to rescue teams.

WBANs involve placing various sensors and actuators on or within a person’s clothing or body. These sensors can track critical biological functions like blood pressure, temperature, respiration, heart rate (via electrocardiogram or ECG), and brain activity (via electroencephalography or EEG). This allows continuous, real-time monitoring of a patient's condition, whether they are moving freely within a hospital or at home, eliminating the need to stay confined to a bed.

The Internet of Things (IoT) amplifies the power of WBANs by connecting these devices to the internet, enabling seamless communication and cooperation. In a disaster scenario, this means rescue teams equipped with WBAN technology can maintain real-time communication, assess the conditions of those in danger, and coordinate efforts more efficiently, ultimately saving lives.

The Architecture of Hope: IoT-Based WBANs in Disaster Relief

Interconnected wearable sensors amidst a disaster landscape.

Imagine a disaster strikes. Traditional communication lines are down, and chaos reigns. This is where IoT-based WBANs step in to provide a crucial communication lifeline. Each person, whether a rescue worker or a person in distress, is equipped with sensor nodes and a coordinator (or HUB) that forms a WBAN. These sensors collect data and transmit it to the coordinator for what’s known as intra-WBAN communication. The coordinators then communicate with other WBANs in an inter-WBAN setup, sharing relevant data.

The coordinator nodes are tasked with transmitting the collected data from the sensor nodes to a destination, such as a mobile phone, laptop, or a central monitoring station. This is achieved by connecting to a gateway, like a Wi-Fi access point (AP) or other wireless technologies. Selecting the most appropriate gateway is critical, and this is where a fuzzy logic-based algorithm comes into play. This algorithm considers several factors to ensure the best possible connection.

The gateway selection process focuses on: Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI): Measures the strength of the wireless signal. Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): Indicates the quality of the signal compared to background noise. Bandwidth: Determines the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit of time. Priority Levels: Ensures critical data gets through first.

By evaluating these parameters using fuzzy logic, the system intelligently selects the gateway that offers the most reliable and efficient communication path. This is particularly crucial in disaster scenarios where conditions are often unpredictable and rapidly changing. The fuzzy logic approach allows for decision-making based on “degrees of truth” rather than simple binary logic (true or false), making it ideal for handling the uncertainties inherent in disaster situations.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Disaster Response

The integration of IoT and WBAN technologies marks a significant step forward in enhancing disaster response. By enabling real-time communication, efficient data transmission, and intelligent gateway selection, these systems offer a promising path towards saving lives and improving rescue efforts. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated and reliable solutions to emerge, further strengthening our ability to respond to disasters effectively. The future may see inclusion of systems like cell phones and other new cognitive radio technologies.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/dac.3864, Alternate LINK

Title: Iot-Based Wireless Body Area Networks For Disaster Cases

Subject: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Journal: International Journal of Communication Systems

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Murtaza Cicioğlu, Ali Çalhan

Published: 2018-12-02

Everything You Need To Know

How do Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) monitor individuals' health in disaster situations, and what specific data do they collect?

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) involve placing sensors on a person's body or clothing to monitor vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, respiration, heart rate (via electrocardiogram or ECG), and brain activity (via electroencephalography or EEG). This data is transmitted to rescue teams, providing real-time insights into the individual's condition. This constant flow of vital information is key to making informed decisions during rescue attempts.

Can you explain how the communication network works within an IoT-based Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) system during a disaster?

In an IoT-based WBAN system, each person has sensor nodes and a coordinator, forming a WBAN. Sensors gather data and transmit it to the coordinator for intra-WBAN communication. Coordinators then communicate with other WBANs in an inter-WBAN setup, sharing relevant data with destinations like phones or central stations using gateways, creating a comprehensive communication network during disasters.

What parameters are considered when selecting the most appropriate gateway in an IoT-based Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) system, and why is fuzzy logic used in this process?

The gateway selection process uses a fuzzy logic-based algorithm to choose the best communication path. This algorithm considers factors like Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Bandwidth, and Priority Levels to ensure reliable and efficient data transmission, especially critical in unpredictable disaster scenarios where connectivity can be unreliable.

In what ways does the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) improve disaster response?

Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) significantly enhances disaster response by enabling real-time communication, efficient data transmission, and intelligent gateway selection. This allows rescue teams to assess conditions, coordinate efforts, and ultimately save lives more effectively. The real-time data flow helps in making informed decisions under immense pressure.

What future advancements are expected in IoT-based Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) for disaster response, beyond current sensor technology and gateway selection methods?

While current IoT-based Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) use sensors for vital signs and fuzzy logic for gateway selection, future systems could integrate technologies like cell phones and cognitive radio for more robust communication networks. Further advancements may include predictive analytics based on collected data to anticipate health deteriorations or hazardous locations for proactive interventions, potentially incorporating AI-driven decision support tools for rescue teams.